![[Drinking Songs] Timeless Classics and the Latest Hit Tracks to Enjoy with a Drink](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0VGX4xkN71I/hqdefault.jpg)
Songs about alcohol.
Do you have a favorite one?
When it comes to drinking, beyond the types of alcohol themselves, there are all kinds of situations: getting lively with a crowd, quietly sipping alone, or soaking up the mood at a bar.
In this article, we’ll introduce classic songs about drinking that suit various scenes, situations, and emotions.
We’ve selected a wide range from nostalgic hits of the ’70s and ’80s to the latest chart-toppers, so enjoy the differences in vibe across the decades.
- [Intoxication and Music] A collection of pleasant Japanese songs to accompany your drinks
- Songs that hype you up just by listening—recommended tracks from timeless classics to the latest releases
- Easy-to-sing songs recommended for men in their 70s: A collection of classic hits you’ll want to sing at karaoke
- [Tearjerker] Songs that make your heart tremble with tears & moving tracks with lyrics that touch the soul
- Lively songs recommended for people in their 80s: A collection of nostalgic enka and kayōkyoku
- [Touching the Heart] Timeless Ballad Masterpieces. A Collection of Unfading Classics and the Latest Songs [2026]
- Songs that get people in their 30s pumped up: a roundup of nostalgic tracks that are also great for karaoke
- A Must-See for Those in Their 20s: A Collection of Youthful Songs That Bring Back School Days
- [Karaoke] Recommended Songs for Men in Their 80s: A Collection of Showa-Era Classics You’ll Want to Belt Out
- [Must read] Songs with great lyrics. Moving songs you’ll want to listen to while reading the lyrics
- A love song that makes a man in his sixties relive his youth. Timeless classics that rekindle the romances of those days.
- [Relaxed & Gentle] A calm track with an easy, unhurried tempo
- Breakup songs recommended for people in their 80s: a collection of classic tracks that capture heartbreaking feelings
[Sake Songs] Classic Favorites and the Newest Hit Tunes to Enjoy While Savoring a Drink (1–10)
5％kuriipuhaipe
Creephyp’s “5%” overlays alcohol by volume with a percentage of feelings.
It’s included on their 2016 album “World View.” The song portrays a faint, budding crush.
The narrator likes the other person and wants to be together, but that person doesn’t yet feel the same.
The depiction of wishing the other would understand their feelings in proportion to the alcohol percentage is a uniquely imaginative touch from lyricist Sekai Kan Ozaki.
Wine Red Heartanzenchitai
Suntory’s wine… or rather, a song originally released as a commercial jingle for Akadama Punch, a drink so ingrained in households that it was even used as a health tonic.
Akadama Punch used to have a wholesome, slightly uncool image, but this sexy, deeply emotive song drew a great deal of attention all on its own.
Thanks to this commercial, the product’s image—and even its consumer base—changed dramatically.
Wow, music really is an essential companion to a good drink.
Kahlúa milkOkamura Yasuyuki
A masterpiece by Yasuyuki Okamura, who also shines in collaborations with other artists like DAOKO and RHYMESTER, captivating listeners with his distinctive funk style.
It’s a single re-released in 1990 from the album “Katem Kyoshi” (Home Tutor).
Younger generations may have discovered it through covers by acts like Bank Band.
Kahlúa Milk—a cocktail of coffee liqueur and milk—creamy, yet don’t you long for that hint of bitterness? The lyrics paint the sweet-and-sour feelings of youth.
It’s a song about wanting to get back together with an ex, and it really brings back those youthful days.
It hits hard, overlapping with that feeling of wanting to talk after a long time.
Isn’t it a timeless classic that transcends eras?
motion sickness from proximitywanuka
This song portrays the moment when hidden feelings are brought to the surface with the help of alcohol.
Set to a light, nostalgic shuffle beat, it skillfully expresses the inner conflict of becoming bolder under the influence.
Featuring a unique scale with Japanese-style elements, it was released in February 2021 and went viral, especially on TikTok.
As a song that depicts the fragility and beauty of being in love, it resonated strongly with young listeners.
It’s a perfect track for anyone carrying a bittersweet love in their heart.
Song of Kanpai (Toast)Ketsumeishi
Alcohol, which accompanies farewells and reunions with friends at life’s turning points and helps bring people closer together, plays a role in deepening bonds in many different moments.
The song “Kanpai no Uta” portrays a final toast with a friend setting off on a distant journey, and the toasts shared by those who remain, reminiscing, “I wonder how they’re doing.” Because we can’t stay together forever, it’s a song that makes you want to cherish each and every moment of a toast.
After a few drinks, belting it out at karaoke with a big group of friends might be just the thing.
green liquorToukyou Jihen
Amid Tokyo Jihen’s captivating, rapturous soundscapes, Ryo-shu (“Green Liquor”), the lead track from their 2021 album Ongaku, exudes a bright, gentle euphoria.
The title evokes both the glamour of entertainment districts and fine sake, and alongside Tokyo Jihen’s often “wa”-inflected sensibility, the song conjures tones of wabi-sabi and refined elegance, painting a convivial atmosphere of shared drinks and easy camaraderie.
In the end, it’s the bonds between people that always save our hearts, isn’t it? This is a beautiful song that celebrates the Japanese people, singing of that universal love in unmistakably Tokyo Jihen fashion.
It makes you long to call the toast.
You like whisky, don’t you?Ishikawa Sayuri
Among the songs used in Western liquor commercials, few have ever been considered as charming as Sayuri Ishikawa’s “Whisky ga O-suki Desho” (“Do You Like Whisky?”).
Showcasing the delicate timbre of her voice—especially in the higher melodies, as heard in songs like “Ettou Tsubame”—this beautiful piece leans less toward traditional enka and more into the realm of Japanese pop.
It was a major hit, and the commercial enjoyed a long run.